Shopify SEO vs Google

Ask Me Anything Q&A SEO Office Hours Repo

Topic summary

The original question asks about differences between Shopify SEO and Google SEO, seeking to understand if guidelines overlap.

Core Response:
There is no separate “Shopify SEO” — standard Google/Bing SEO principles apply to Shopify stores.

Key Recommendations:

  • Use keyword research tools (Ahrefs, SEMRush, KeySearch) to build a data foundation
  • Create collections based on how users describe products — check Google’s filter suggestions for relevant dimensions (gender, fit, style, color, etc.)
  • Build collections only when you have 3-5+ products to display
  • Set up Google Merchant Center feed via the Google & YouTube app
  • Link important collections from main navigation
  • Add customer reviews and FAQs to product pages

Common Mistakes to Avoid:

  • Thin product pages lacking descriptions, reviews, or useful information
  • Missing or inadequate collection descriptions
  • Insufficient number of collections
  • Not activating Google Merchant Center feed
  • Failing to monitor feed quality in Google Merchant Center
  • Lacking descriptive, keyword-targeted title tags and headings

The discussion concludes with these foundational elements being essential before pursuing advanced SEO tactics.

Summarized with AI on October 29. AI used: claude-sonnet-4-5-20250929.
1

How different is Shopify SEO vs. Google? Are there any notable differences or can you assume that the guidelines overlap?

2

I don’t know what Shopify SEO is. :slightly_smiling_face:

Here’s my general advice for Google/Bing SEO, which is what we’re discussing here.

It’s difficult to provide highly useful advice without looking at a site (and unfortunately I don’t have time to do site reviews during these), but here are the basics that I’d suggest for everyone:

  • Learn how to do keyword research with a tool like Ahrefs, SEMRush, or Key Search. This gives you a foundation in data.
  • Build collections for all of the ways that a user might describe your products. If you’re not sure, type the base name of your product into Google (e.g. if you sell specialty denim, you might search for [jeans]) and see which filters Google displays on the lefthand side of desktop results. These are the dimensions that you should be building collections for (
    • e.g. for [jeans] you’ll see target gender, fit, style, color, etc.) - build collections for all of those different values as long as you have 3-5 products to display. So you might build collections for “mens jeans,” “womens jeans,” “skinny jeans,” “black jeans,” you get the idea. This is the biggest opportunity for most merchants.
  • Make sure you have a Google Merchant Center feed set up. The Google & YouTube app can help you do this for free.
  • Make sure you’re linking to all pages throughout your site, with your most important collections (or all, if you can) linked from your main navigation.
  • Collect and display reviews on your product pages.
  • Answer FAQs on your product pages.

Most common mistakes I see:

  • Thin product pages (minimal description, no reviews, no useful information)
  • No collection descriptions
  • Not building enough collections
  • Not activating Google & YouTube or similar Google Merchant Center feed app
  • Not checking Google Merchant Center to make sure feed quality is ok (they’ll flag things for you to fix)
  • Not having descriptive, keyword-targeted title tags and headings.

^Those are the basics you have to get right before you start thinking about other stuff.

3

Thank you!! Appreciate the thorough response!